The Case for a Reboot of the Halo Franchise

Summary

The Halo franchise has lost some of its spark due to controversial changes and a convoluted storyline, leading to a decrease in excitement among fans.
Rebooting Halo could provide a fresh start free from the baggage of recent entries, allowing for iconic moments to be brought to life with the latest technology.
A Halo reboot should stick to the series' roots in terms of storytelling and gameplay, focusing on a straightforward story and small-scale battles against intelligent enemies.

Looking at the state of the Halo franchise as it nears its 25th anniversary in 2026, it’s clear that the storied sci-fi series has lost some of the spark that once helped it dominate the shooter genre. Thanks to sometimes controversial changes made to core gameplay mechanics and an increasingly convoluted storyline that turned away some long-time franchise fans, Master Chief’s most recent outings haven’t generated the same level of excitement as the series’ earliest entries. As 343 Industries plans for Halo’s future, the best way to move the series forward may be to revisit its past with a reboot.

While rebooting a series as iconic as Halo wouldn’t come without risks, it could provide Microsoft and 343 Industries with a chance to give the franchise a fresh start free from the baggage of recent entries. A reboot could let gamers see some of the series’ most iconic moments brought to life with the latest technology, from the fall of Reach to the discovery of the first Halo, while improving on what made Halo a hit in the first place. By following in the footsteps of recent reboots like Square Enix’s wildly successful Final Fantasy 7 Remake, a Halo reboot could pay homage to its source material.

A Halo Reboot Should Take a Back-to-Basics Approach

Since its debut in 2001, the Halo franchise has gone through two main developers and multiple generations of Xbox hardware, with each transition altering the story and gameplay in sometimes drastic ways. From the introduction of new enemies like Halo 4’s Prometheans to the revamped movement mechanics in Halo 5: Guardians, recent entries have attempted to redefine the Halo formula with varying levels of success. This is why one of the best choices that 343 Industries could make with a potential Halo reboot would be to stick to the series’ roots both in terms of storytelling and gameplay.

Instead of including the expanded lore introduced in its sequels, a Halo reboot should tell the same sort of straightforward story as the original game. While an intro level set during the fall of Reach would be a great way to firmly establish the stakes ahead of the main campaign, the thrust of the story should stay focused on Master Chief’s attempts to uncover the truth about the Halo. Gameplay, too, should follow this same back-to-basics approach. Rather than overwhelming players with new mechanics, a Halo reboot should embrace the small-scale battles against intelligent, adaptable enemies that made the original game so revolutionary.

A Halo Reboot Could Innovate While Staying True to Its Roots

Staying true to the source material doesn’t mean a Halo reboot couldn’t innovate, though. Much like Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 7 Remake expanded on parts of the original game that worked well while minimizing or eliminating others altogether, a Halo reboot could double down on what works while trimming the fat in other areas. This could mean an increased focus on outdoor areas with some inspiration from Halo Infinite’s open world, or even reworking or removing the game’s tedious and labyrinthine Library level.

By expanding on the game’s most memorable moments and eliminating anything that throws off the pace of play, a Halo reboot could reinvigorate the franchise and set the stage for a whole new series of Halo games. Freed from the constraints of the convoluted lore that came to dominate later entries, 343 Industries would also be able to give the franchise a cohesive and comprehensible story for the first time in years.

Rebooting Halo would be a bold decision, one with the potential to inspire backlash from the series’ passionate fanbase. If handled well, though, a Halo reboot would not only bring new players to the aging franchise but would also serve as an enduring love letter to a series that has brought so many people happiness for almost a quarter of a century.

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